I was a junior at the University of Kansas, studying for a physical chemistry test that night and somewhat oblivious to the drawing.  My girlfriend called me and said they just drew my number.  I asked "OK, so what was it?"  "No. 357".  "The hell with P Chem, I think we need to celebrate."  Needless to say, that P Chem test wasn’t my best.

When I talked to my very Republican father, a WWII veteran, he was surprisingly relieved.  He had always supported the war and the government that put us there.  But he was also the Selective Service Board appeals agent for my home county in Montana and he said "I wouldn’t have let you go; your appeal would have been approved."  It was the only time I ever saw him act selfish.